The Vifor wind farm project (previously called Vis Viva) is an under-construction onshore wind farm in south-east Romania. The project is being developed by First Looks Solutions, the project subsidiary of Actis-backed Rezolv Energy and renewable energy investor Low Carbon.
The Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) granted the setting-up authorisation for the first phase of the VIFOR project in May 2024. This authorisation served as the final approval required for the project’s commencement.
Recommended White Papers
The 461MW wind farm will be developed in two phases. The first phase will deliver 192MW in capacity, with an additional 269MW to be added in the subsequent phase.
The first phase of Vifor is expected to be commissioned in December 2025.
Construction of Phase 2 is slated to begin in the latter half of 2025, with expected full commissioning in April 2027.
Once fully operational, Vifor will become one of the largest onshore wind farms in Europe with the capacity produce enough clean energy to power over 270,000 homes.
The project will prevent the emission of approximately 540,000 tonnes of CO2e each year. It will also play a crucial role in the region’s energy transition contributing to the Romania’s 2030 EU renewable energy targets
The utility-scale wind farm is expected to supply renewable energy to commercial, industrial, and other off-takers throughout Romania and Central and Southeastern Europe.
Vifor Wind Farm Location
The Vifor project site, encompassing 2,869 hectares, is in Buzau County, Romania. It covers the communes of Costesti, Gheraseni, Smeeni, Pogoanele, Luciu, Tintesti, and Cilibia.
The site was selected due to its flat terrain, nearby grid access and its proximity to the Carpathian Mountains, around 12km to the northwest, which will support higher wind yields.
Most of the turbines will be installed on leased public land marked by dry and salt steppes and pastures affected by drought and overgrazing.
During construction, around 200 hectares are expected to be affected.
Vifor Wind Farm Infrastructure
The Vifor Wind Farm will consist of 72 wind turbine generators (WTGs).
The project’s first phase includes the installation of 30 Vestas V162 wind turbines, followed by an additional 42 turbines in the second phase. All turbines will be linked to a single transformer station via underground cable lines.
A Central Power Collection Substation (CPCS) will be established in the Pogoanele sub-project within Luciu commune on a 2.75-hectare plot owned by the Pogoanele Town Local Council.
This substation will convert the electric power generated by the turbines from 33 kV to 400 kV, facilitating grid transfer.
Energy from all sub-project wind turbines will be channelled to the Collection Substation through 33kV underground cable lines buried 2m deep.
The transformer substation will be connected to the 400 kV OHL Cernavoda-Stâlpu line via an overhead powerline, spanning a total of 1.2km and eventually it will be integrated into the national grid.
The project also encompasses significant infrastructure developments, including power grid connections, access roads in Smeeni, Gheraseni, and Costesti, culverts, and the construction of two bridges over the Calmatui River.
The wind farm will have an estimated operational life of up to 35 years.
Vifor Wind Farm Wind Turbine Details
The Vifor Wind Farm will feature 72 wind turbine generators (WTGs) of the 6.4 MW EnVentus Vestas V162 model. Each turbine will have a tower height of 166m and a rotor diameter of 162m, offering a total capacity of 460.8 MW.
Every turbine will be installed on a permanent foundation with a hardstand area of 855 square metres.
During the construction phase, each turbine site will require an additional 50 square metre hardstand area for crane operations. The combined surface area of the reinforced concrete foundations for all 72 turbines will cover 6.15 hectares.
Financing
In June 2024, First Looks Solutions secured finance loan facilities up to €291m to fund the Phase 1 construction of the Vifor wind farm. The financing included backing from a consortium of eight lenders led by Erste Group, UniCredit Group, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), Intesa Sanpaolo Group, OTP Bank, Raiffeisen Bank International AG, and Garanti BBVA Romania also participated.
First Look Solutions signed additional project finance facilities of up to €331m in July 2025, to support the 269MW second phase of the VIFOR wind farm’s construction.
This financing was largely supported by the same trusted lenders from the first phase, including Erste Group, UniCredit Group, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IFC, Intesa Sanpaolo Group, and OTP Bank, with the addition of Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-Wien.
EBRD provided €32m loan for the first phase and €44m for the second phase of the project.
Contractors Involved
In June 2024, Vestas was selected by First Looks Solutions as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partner for the first phase of the Vifor wind farm.
The firm order included 30 V162-6.2 MW turbines of the EnVentus platform operating in a 6.4MW operating mode. Vestas will deliver the turbines and will also carry out for the project’s civil and electrical works.
The company has also signed a 15-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement to provide necessary services for the project.
